Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Mingqi warrior - 46 cm
07
days
14
hours
31
minutes
46
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 3,300 - € 4,000
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 139958 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Mingqi warrior, a Han Dynasty terracotta funerary figure dating to circa 200 BC, measuring approximately 46 cm high, 18 cm wide and 10 cm deep, in good restored condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
CHINA, HAN DYNASTY (206 B.C.–220 A.D.)
Invoice seen by Catawiki.
Important funerary figure of a warrior or guard in polychrome terracotta — Mingqi
Interesting and expressive Chinese funerary figure in polychrome terracotta, depicting a standing warrior or guard, belonging to the sculptural tradition developed during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.).
The figure stands upright and facing frontally, dressed in a long, wide-swinging tunic over trousers, preserving significant remnants of its old pictorial decoration in dark tones, cream and red. The diagonal red stripe crossing the torso is especially striking.
The right arm is flexed and raised, with the hand closed, while the left arm descends along the body. This arrangement indicates that originally the figure would have held weapons, staffs or other attributes made separately, currently missing, a common circumstance in these funerary sculptures.
The face, deliberately schematic yet expressive, features modestly modeled eyes, nose and mouth, crowned by a characteristic headdress.
These figures, known as mingqi, were part of the extraordinary funerary universe of Han China. They were placed in the tombs of high-status individuals to symbolically reproduce in the Afterlife the entourage, servants and elements of the daily life enjoyed by the deceased.
Han funerary sculpture marks one of the great evolutions of ancient Chinese art following the famous Qin Terracotta Army: faced with the monumentality of that ensemble, Han artists developed numerous figures of guards, soldiers, servants, musicians, animals and domestic scenes intended to populate authentic underground palaces.
Particularly attractive is the partial preservation of the original polychromy applied in cold technique, extremely vulnerable after approximately two thousand years of burial.
Material: terracotta with remnants of polychromy and engobes.
Dimensions: 46 × 16 × 10 cm approx.
Condition: archaeological state. Shows wear and losses of polychromy, surface deposits and concretion, cracks and fissures, highlighting a wide transverse crack at chest and shoulder height, as well as ancient joins/repairs. The attributes originally held by the hands have been lost. See photographic documentation for details.
A piece of great presence and considerable size, representative of one of the fundamental chapters of Chinese ancient funerary sculpture.
Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as TL, C14, lapidary tests, pigment analysis or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.
CHINA, HAN DYNASTY (206 B.C.–220 A.D.)
Invoice seen by Catawiki.
Important funerary figure of a warrior or guard in polychrome terracotta — Mingqi
Interesting and expressive Chinese funerary figure in polychrome terracotta, depicting a standing warrior or guard, belonging to the sculptural tradition developed during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.).
The figure stands upright and facing frontally, dressed in a long, wide-swinging tunic over trousers, preserving significant remnants of its old pictorial decoration in dark tones, cream and red. The diagonal red stripe crossing the torso is especially striking.
The right arm is flexed and raised, with the hand closed, while the left arm descends along the body. This arrangement indicates that originally the figure would have held weapons, staffs or other attributes made separately, currently missing, a common circumstance in these funerary sculptures.
The face, deliberately schematic yet expressive, features modestly modeled eyes, nose and mouth, crowned by a characteristic headdress.
These figures, known as mingqi, were part of the extraordinary funerary universe of Han China. They were placed in the tombs of high-status individuals to symbolically reproduce in the Afterlife the entourage, servants and elements of the daily life enjoyed by the deceased.
Han funerary sculpture marks one of the great evolutions of ancient Chinese art following the famous Qin Terracotta Army: faced with the monumentality of that ensemble, Han artists developed numerous figures of guards, soldiers, servants, musicians, animals and domestic scenes intended to populate authentic underground palaces.
Particularly attractive is the partial preservation of the original polychromy applied in cold technique, extremely vulnerable after approximately two thousand years of burial.
Material: terracotta with remnants of polychromy and engobes.
Dimensions: 46 × 16 × 10 cm approx.
Condition: archaeological state. Shows wear and losses of polychromy, surface deposits and concretion, cracks and fissures, highlighting a wide transverse crack at chest and shoulder height, as well as ancient joins/repairs. The attributes originally held by the hands have been lost. See photographic documentation for details.
A piece of great presence and considerable size, representative of one of the fundamental chapters of Chinese ancient funerary sculpture.
Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as TL, C14, lapidary tests, pigment analysis or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.
Details
Culture
Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty
Century/timeframe
200AC
Name of object
Mingqi warrior
Acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Year acquired
2006
Material
Terracotta
Country acquired from
Hong Kong
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Height
46 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1950
Width
18 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
China
Depth
10 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Refurbished original
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
